Referee:Anthony Taylor, from Wythenshawe - a whole
five miles from Old Trafford.

This was Taylor's first senior game at
the ground, with the only previous fixture he's handled involving the Red
Devils their 5-0 stroll at Molineux back in March.

While his poor handling of the home side's delaying tactics jarred, there
wasn't much else to argue with save for a Tiote yellow card after a
challenge that was replicated by several opponents without similar censure.

Taylor's fifth Toon game was
our fourth loss, a 3-0 home victory
over Reading and 0-3 loss at Derby County
in our Championship winning season, a 0-2 lossat Spurs in late
2010 and West Brom's 3-2 success at SJP in late 2011.

Attendance:
46,358, which officially included around
700 away fans who made themselves heard right from the start, with
chants including "£45 you're taking the p***".

The passing of singer Andy Williams was also inadvertently marked
with a chorus of the Coloccini song from the away section aka "You're
Just Too Good To Be True". Sadly though we missed out on "Music
to Watch Goals By"...

Although there were 29,407 empty seats, the crowd here was
still the sixth largest to watch us in the 130 ties we've
played in this competition since 1960:

Home sections were partly populated by a pre-pubescent presence bussed
in from God knows where, benefiting from a free ticket offer extended
to schools across the UK.

And some of those young un's bizarrely counted down the final seconds
of the 90 minutes: usually the stuff of Masters tournaments and celebrity kickabouts, or to TV watchers of a certain age, "We Are The
Champions". Away you go, as Ron Pickering would say.

With the approval of NUFC (or so the Football
League Press Office claim) the home side opted not to discount their
Premier League prices, meaning that fans were asked to part with £45
(plus booking fee). That affected the away attendance and also meant
that various home sections of the stadium remained closed due to lack
of demand

To give you an idea of just how ridiculous and out of context this
pricing was, here's what away fans were asked to pay at this week's other ties in
this round staged at top-flight grounds:

It was possible to buy cheaper non-member adult tickets for
upcoming Champions League games at Old Trafford than for this League
Cup tie.

Nicky Butt and John Beresford were dragged up as Sky pundits for their
live coverage.

PS: Deep into the
four minutes of added time, the tie was halted when some clown jumped
out of the Stretford End to one side of Elliot's goal and danced on to
the pitch after evading stewards, possibly with the help of an
accomplice who made a dummy run and was caught at pitchside.

He was quickly surrounded by stewards and walked off the pitch, albeit
via an elongated route that suggested the Old Trafford security people
were as keen on wasting time as the home players.

Goals

44 minsAnderson was stronger in the tackle than Dan Gosling and held off our man before
rifling in an effort that flew in off Rob Elliot's right hand post.
0-1

Half time:
United 0 United 1
58 minsTomCleverley doubled the home side's advantage when he had space on
the edge of the box to curl a low shot past Elliot's despairing dive at the
Stretford End
0-2

62 mins Newcastle's twin replacements made an immediate impact when Shane
Ferguson forced his way down the left flank to the byline and got his cross over
to Papiss Cisse, who headed home from close range 1-2

Full time: United 1 United 2

We
Said

Alan Pardew said:

“I’m disappointed for the club, because I think we deserved
something, if I’m honest. I’m very happy with the performance,
especially individually.

“Fergie (Shane Ferguson) came on and changed the game with
that left foot of his. It was something we need in the first team – he
needs to push on now.

"(Haris) Vuckic could have got the goal of the season with
his ability and Bigi (Gael Bigirimana) came on and sprayed it around.

"I could talk about positives all night – Tav (James Tavernier)
was solid. He needs to work on his final pass, but he’ll get that and play
for this football club, for sure.

"The goals were at an awful time for us – two minutes before
half time and just as I’m about to try and change the game by introducing
a big-hitter. They got a second, and that was disappointing.

"He (Cisse) needed a goal - now the media can't put that
(scoreless run) round his neck anymore, his feathers were up, and the second
one I thought was in.

"We knew they (Tiote and Coloccini) probably wouldn't last the
90 minutes.

"It was a tough game, they move the ball so fast and you have a lot of
work to put in even for 70 minutes, but they both got through that and it
was very good."

They
Said

Fergie commented:

"(Darren Fletcher and (Wayne) Rooney were both excellent.
Wayne tired a bit towards the end but that was to be expected and they have done
really well.

"I'm very pleased first of all to win
an all-Premier League division tie and then because Newcastle had a stronger
team than us physically but we played some fantastic football and I think we
deserved the victory.

"We want to progress as far as we can
in the competition and we'll do our best to do that. Winning is always important
at this club."

"The young defenders did their best. It
was obviously difficult as (Shola) Ameobi is a big lad, a handful. Then
they brought (Papiss) Cisse on, who is one of the best players at the
club and has a lot of experience. It was a compliment to us that they did that
and I think we handled it quite well.

"The club (NUFC) has come on tremendously over the past couple of
years under Alan Pardew. They were challenging for a place in the Champions
League last season. They missed out, but are playing in the Europa League and
enjoying a taste of the level that their history suggests should be a natural
backdrop for the club.

“They have a mid-table place this season
and are a more streamlined outfit these days, but they run a tight ship, no
doubt influenced by owner Mike Ashley, who has perhaps applied some of the
principles that brought him success in the business world.

“They will be all the better for that
after a period of unrest and a revolving door for managers. They look a stable
club to me now and could make a serious bid to qualify for the top European
competition next season.

“Alan got away with his risky selection in
Madeira by coming home with a draw from what almost amounted to his reserve
side. It’s always a gamble when you don’t make wholesale changes and if they
don’t work you are embarrassed and left with egg on your face.

“But you have to back your judgment and
aim to select sides that are as fresh as you can get them.”

Stats

Papiss Cisse
scored his first club goal of the season, his first cup goal for
United and his 14th in total from 21 games (19 starts) in all
competition. As a comparison, compatriot Demba Ba has 20 from 42 games
(39 starts).

Cisse's first Newcastle goal of last season also came when he appeared
as a substitute, debuting at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League
and taking 57 minutes to net. His second-ever outing from the bench as
a Magpie saw him repeat the feat here within a minute - now that's
what I call a super sub...

This was Newcastle's fourth successive away draw in this
competition and in total we've had just one home fixture in the last eight
ties.

This was the third time that we have met Manchester United in
this competition, with our Fourth Round visit to Old Trafford in the
1976/77 season infamously ending in a 7-2 victory for the home side. A
measure of revenge was exacted however in the Third Round tie of
1994/95, when Philippe Albert and Paul Kitson scored the goals to
secure a 2-0 win on Tyneside.

This was our 31st unsuccessful attempt to beat the home side at
Old Trafford in all competitions (if you read 30 elsewhere it's
because they haven't counted the 1988/89 Mercantile Cup tie):

However this was our first defeat in three cup visits
to this venue, after FA Cup semi-final wins here in both 1998
(Sheffield United) and 1999 (Spurs) when Old Trafford was the neutral
venue.

Full record against Manchester
United:

P

W

D

L

F

A

SJP

73

30

17

26

138

110

OT

73

9

20

44

77

163

League

146

39

37

70

215

273

SJP(FA)

1

0

0

1

2

3

OT/W/MS

3

0

0

3

1

7

SJP(LC)

1

1

0

0

2

0

OT

2

0

0

2

3

9

Cup

7

1

0

6

8

19

OT/W(CS)

2

0

0

2

2

8

Tot

153

40

37

76

223

292

Waffle

With the exception of the result (and a nagging irritation that runouts for
Cabaye, Ba and Ben Arfa would have ended a 40 year hoodoo on this ground), this
was a night of positives for Alan Pardew.

A competition which has provided Newcastle fans with almost ritual
disappointment throughout its various incarnations never figured large on the
agenda of any manager of the modern era. And for our own part, we vividly recall
attending ties at the likes of St.Andrews and willing the team not to equalise
in the closing moments - to just put us out of our misery.

The return of European football to our workload may have seen us enter the
League Cup at a later stage than of late, but that familiar sinking feeling
accompanied our pairing with Fergie's side in the draw...and that's before
confirmation came of the fiscal madness at the Old Trafford turnstiles.

Still, the famous win at Chelsea under Chris Hughton in 2010 remains fresh in
our thoughts and paved the way to end the barren Premier League run at Stamford
Bridge. And although lightning didn't strike twice here, this was far from a
wasted night for Newcastle fans and players.

Most obviously, the return to scoring form of Papiss Cisse was a tangible
positive and our number nine also looked far more like his effervescent self
last season in terms of litheness and movement.
Cisse's powers of improvisation also look intact, one outrageous bicycle kick
finding the crossbar.

Beginning with a front pairing of Shola Ameobi and Haris Vuckic, it's hard to
recall a wasted ball or move involving the former, who was unplayable...but in a
good way. His partner meanwhile had the better of what chances came our way and
twice came agonisingly close to hitting the target. In terms of effort though,
he could take a leaf out of the elder Ameobi's book - quite simply he needs to
move around and compete more.

As has been the case in the previous three seasons, this competition allowed
James Tavernier to sample first team life in a Newcastle shirt and he acquitted
himself well in defence and attack.

There may still be some frustrations in terms of losing the ball in dangerous
positions, but in our eyes Tav remains exhibit A when judging the benefits of
loaning youngsters to Football League clubs - giving them a grounding in real
life professional football that just doesn't come from reserve games.

Unfortunately we're unable to display similar optimism in the case of Gabriel
Obertan, making a second return to his former home ground since joining Tyneside
and in no way looking like a man with a point to prove.

As in previous cup games this season he enjoyed no lack of possession and
clearly has pace, but seems incapable of providing a run and a cross or shot in
one cohesive movement - looking more concerned in working the ball back or
trying to win a free kick or corner; both instances resulting in a loss of any
momentum that we may have built up.

Obertan's lack of end product was highlighted when Shane Ferguson appeared at
outside left and in a matter of seconds showed admirable single-mindedness to
drive forward, take on his opponent and deliver a cross in the same move.

Cisse lapped that one up to reduce the arrears and the same pair then repeated
the feat, coming mighty closing to making it 2-2.

Trying to find something positive to say about Obertan, at least he got
somewhere in the vicinity of the opposition penalty area - which is more than
can said for the fitful Marveaux. Whether it's a lack of confidence or fitness
is unclear, but he's clearly reluctant to try and evade an opponent and instead
looking for a routine, unthreatening pass back towards his own goal.

Midway in between the French pair in terms of our optimism/exasperation lies
Gosling, who had three attempts to find the net here as he had done last season
at the blue half of Manchester. Sadly one was mis-hit, the next over the bar and
third not strong enough to beat De Gea.

Like his shots in the Maritimo away game, he's at least now getting into the
positions to have a crack. However, he's still to silence those of the opinion
that Pardew weakened his midfield pool by losing Guthrie and retaining Gosling,
with a consequent reduction in goals and assists.

Perhaps the benefit of another five guaranteed Europa League ties before
Christmas will be that he has further opportunities to improve - and that the
manager equally has openings in which to try and achieve what would be an almost
Perch-like uplift in his value to the squad.

With the outfield positives outweighing the negatives - Tiote far more sensible
tonight than on Sunday despite another booking and more vital experience for
Bigirimana - goalkeeper Rob Elliot should also be mentioned for blocks from
Anderson and Welbeck that built on his display in Madeira.

So an honest display and an honest
defeat, with no real reason to complain about the appointment of a
Manchester-based match referee for this game, other than to wonder why this
doesn't happen all the time and messrs Clattenburg and Oliver don't get SJP
appointments.

Losing in normal time was certainly preferable to exiting after another 30
minutes and/or penalties ahead of Saturday's winnable game at Reading, while
news of Manchester United's Fourth Round draw away to Chelsea provoked sighs of
relief rather than jealousy or anger. Maybe next year...